“No, no. It’s nothing like that at all. Diana’s dad, Professor Lange—Diana, that’s the American’s name—her dad is working at the wireless station with me. Really fine fellow. They are such a nice family, so I see him almost every day. We both live in Windhoek, so we dine together on occasion, me and his family. I’ve only been out and about with Diana five or six times, all very proper. But she is a vivacious girl, beautiful and, well, a lot of fun.” The two fell into silence.
Then Levi continued exploring this new revelation: “Five or six times? Here at home, that’s practically saying she’s spoken for! Does Helena know?”
After an awkward pause, Levi pressed on, “You dine with a family with a single daughter, beautiful, as you say, in that little town of Windhoek?” Levi took his hat off and brushed his hand through his hair. “Markus, my friend, this has all the makings of a sad—and possibly scandalous—nightmare for you. Haven’t you learned anything?”
“Yes, I know. Don’t you think I know that? But, you see, I don’t know what I want. I mean, I’m not sure I want to make a commitment to, to just one girl.”
“Well, you better! You must make a decision. It’s not fair to either of those women, is it? Is it?”
“Ja, no, you’re right. I mean, I know you’re right.”
“Markus, I know you’ve had some disappointments with women, with Li Ling and my sister, Ilsa, but those relationships are in the past. You have to let your doubts go, but learn from them. Don’t let those sad episodes in your life cripple your future. You only have your future, your career, and your happiness. Remember, you’re not in the South Pacific anymore. You’re not a young lancer. You’re an officer.” Levi turned and continued walking. “That’s all the advice I can give you except to remind you, you must do what’s right. Make a decision, and be honest with those women. That’s all I can say.” With that, they headed back toward the manor house, both now shrouded in an uneasy silence.
Katherina and Ilsa and the senior Levis bid farewell to their lifelong friend, as Levi loaded Markus’s suitcase into the Benz. The little group waved goodbye as Otto said, “Your express train leaves at five, so you have plenty of time to get to the station.”
Levi and Markus both enjoyed the drive along the forest lane, this time slow and steady on the snowy road. Their lighthearted chat after their sober walk in the woods brought the two men close again, like the old days.
“You wouldn’t believe how Windhoek has grown since you were there. Did I tell you they even have three aeroplanes at our installation?”
“And you took one of them up, didn’t you?” Levi grinned.
“Natürlich. They were surprised at my flying ability and aeronautical knowledge, especially in repairing those engines. It wasn’t long before they let me fly. And, I did fly all three at one time or another. It was great fun to see the African countryside and magnificent herds of animals from the air. Levi, you should come back to Africa sometime … and bring Katherina.”
“I’m quite happy here, but who knows? Someday it would be nice to do a grand tour of our colonies in Africa.” They ended their time together on a warm, brotherly note.
“I’ll be back in ten months or so.”
“Well, don’t forget to write and let us know how it all works out for you. Good Luck!”
With that, Markus threw his suitcase through the open wooden door into his first class train compartment and gave a wave to Levi. He was gone in a cloud of steam and gray coal smoke, headed north to the Port of Kiel and the light battle cruiser SMS Dresden.
German South West Africa
CHAPTER 8
Passion and Regret
The SMS Dresden was three days late steaming into Swakopmund Harbor, German South West Africa, because of winter storms at sea. Captain Mathias had a long time to think about his life and his future on the voyage south. It was Wednesday, December 21, 1911, and Markus was eager to get back up to Windhoek, his job at the station, and of course, Helena.
He sent a telegram ahead, stating his train’s arrival time, and she was at the station, with Wolfgang, Humboldt, and her sister, Christiana. Markus was laden down with Christmas presents, gifts for both the Conrad family, all of them, and for the Lange family, too. One trunk was completely packed with presents.
They all gave him hugs, and Helena gripped his arm tightly as they rode in an open carriage to his military headquarters. The two young women wore long, white, summer dresses, with tight waists and lace around the bodice. They both carried open parasols. It was a balmy seventy-six degrees in the bright sun. It was a pleasing shock for Markus, with such a contrast to the howling winds and cold of Munich in December and the storms at sea. Here, below the equator, spring and summer lay ahead.
“I must report in, but I should be free this weekend,” he announced to everyone in the carriage. “It’s so good to be back!”
As the others chatted, Markus turned his head toward Helena and whispered, “Did you really think I might not come back?” She looked at him with a smile, squeezed his arm, and said nothing for a moment.
“I prayed for you … for your safe return,” she said, not looking at him. “Will you be coming out to the ranch for the weekend?”
“Ja, I do so want to greet your father and everyone.” This time Helena looked Markus in the eyes and smiled. They both felt a strong desire to kiss, but held back, knowing that Christiana was watching them.
Earlier Christiana had elbowed Humboldt and nodded her head toward the couple. Wolfgang looked at her and said quietly, “Behave yourself,” and then engaged her in lively distractions.
Professor Lange met Markus on Thursday afternoon at the wireless station. The two were genuinely glad to see each other and to be able to talk the talk of their profession.
“Won’t you join us for dinner? The family will be most happy to see you again.”
Mrs. Dorothy Lange was elegant and lovely as always, and Diana, in a pink, flowery dress was as beautiful as a fairytale princess.
Over dinner in their spacious apartment in the Bismarck Hotel, Markus said, “I told my friends in Munich about my American friends from the California Wild West and about your longhorn animals. They said we should get some for the Munich zoo!” This made the three Californians laugh to tears, thinking of their cattle in a German zoo.
“Shall we go for a stroll after dinner?” the professor suggested. “They have just finished the park—little trees and nice flower beds and all such. When it grows up, it will be a fine addition.”
“Oh, let’s do!” Diana exclaimed. “Mother? Markus?” It was agreed, and in no time, the four were out the door, headed for the newest addition to Windhoek.
“Markus,” Warner began, “did I tell you I had one of the antelope racks from the hunt mounted … head and all? Fine trophy. I’ll show it to you when I get it back.”
“Splendid, sir. I’d like to see it and maybe mount one for myself soon.” They walked the sweeping, stone-lined paths recently planted with a profusion of native, flowering plants.
“I need a rest,” Warner declared as he sat down on one of the wooden park benches. Dorothy followed suit, saying, “I believe I’ll join you, dear.”
The young couple stopped and Markus offered, “Would you like to go back to the hotel, Professor?”
“No, no. Dorothy and I will just sit here awhile. You two go on. Enjoy yourselves. If we’re not here when you get back, we’ll be home.”
As the two started out, Warner added, “There’s a café just on the corner there. Maybe you know it, Markus. Great Viennese pastries. Diana, if you do go in, bring me several of those long, twisty ones with the cream inside … great for breakfast.”
“Yes, Father.” With that, they were off down the curving path and were soon obscured by the bushy ferns and other plantings.
“It’s good to see him back. What do you think?” Warner asked.
“I think you think too much of him, dear. I’ve seen Markus in the company of that young woman fr
om the ranch, Helena.” Dorothy thought a moment and continued, “I just don’t want Diana getting too involved. I don’t want to see her hurt.” She sighed.
“You know she likes him.”
“Yes, well, of course she likes him. He’s a fine young man.”
Warner turned and looked down the path, then turned back. “As for that other woman, of course Captain Mathias would be social with the Conrads. There’s not that much to do out here in Africa. It’s not like San Francisco … well, before it burned down after the earthquake, but you know what I mean.”
Strolling along the poorly lit path, Diana began, “It’s nice to have you back, Markus. My father enjoys working with you on those wireless projects.” They were not touching at first, but Diana slipped off a cobblestone and collapsed to one side. Markus lunged for her and grabbed her arm as she was halfway down, pulling her upright.
“Oh, my! Thank you! I almost fell. This part of the path is so uneven,” she exclaimed, taking his arm firmly.
“Are you all right?” he asked. They had turned toward each other, still very close.
“Yes, yes … I believe so,” she replied, looking up at him in the dim light. “Good thing you caught me, or I would have gone right into the bushes.” They were both smiling. “You would have had to come in after me!”
“It would have been my pleasure.” They both had a little laugh over that potentiality, and Markus added, “Let’s go to that café your father was talking about.” She took his arm as they made their way to the brightly lit café, buzzing with others out for the evening. After coffee and the purchase of her father’s treats, the two resumed their walk, but this time down side streets, the long way round back to her hotel. It was much darker, with fewer people about. Diana held Markus’s arm.
“I hope we can do this again soon, Markus. It was such a lovely evening.”
He hesitated, “Yes, it is, and you, Fräulein Lange, are so lovely in that pretty dress.”
She stopped and turned in closer to him. “Really? Do you like me in this dress?” She looked down at her front, then up at him.
She was beautiful, and he thought, She wants to be kissed. But, before he could finish the thought, their lips met. She melted into his arms, and he could feel her body pressing against him. She lingered in the embrace, and he was moved by her body close to his and by the night and by her lips.
He surrendered to the impulse and allowed his hand to circle around her and press her to him. She let out a tiny sound as her arms went around his neck. He was sure she could feel his desire, but she didn’t pull back from his pressing hands. Against his instinct, he finally broke off the kiss and loosened his hug. She slowly lowered her arms in a moment of awkward silence between them.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” he blurted out. “We should be going.”
“No, no, it wasn’t you … your fault, I mean. We, I mean, I … it was just a lovely moment. I hope you thought so, too,” she said with a touch of embarrassment in her voice. He didn’t respond, but turned, took her arm by the elbow, and continued their walk. They turned the corner into a small square with a double row of trees and park benches. A small fountain gurgled in the dark shadows off the path.
“Isn’t that a pleasant sound?” she said, griping his upper arm.
“Where is it, the fountain?” They stopped a moment to listen for the direction of the water. It was almost pitch dark, and Markus broke away and took several steps, stopping by a tree as he listened. Oh, it’s a water trough for horses!”
They both laughed. He came back to where Diana was sitting on a nearby park bench. He sat down beside her, raised his arm and pointed into the night. “It’s over there somewhere,” he said. She raised her hand and slowly pressed his arm down, turning into him.
This time, though still gentle, it was a more passionate kiss. Shrouded in the darkness of night, with not a soul to be seen, amidst the splashing of the water, the two enjoyed each other’s touch and kisses. His hand traced down her arm to her breast and his fingers closed around it. She did not resist. Their lips parted slightly as their tongues touched.
His hand pulled slowly, effortlessly revealing a smooth, soft shoulder and chest. He kissed her there. She held his head to her, not thinking, only feeling the sweet pleasure of it all. Up to her lips again, as they were both enveloped in the moment, his hand went to her knee, to her inner thigh. She leaned into him and kissed his neck.
“We must be going,” she whispered.
“Yes, of course.” They walked in silence most of the way back. Nothing had to be said.
As they approached the lobby of the hotel, she asked, “When will I see you again?”
“Soon,” he replied. “I’ll have to check my work schedule.” She wanted to kiss him good night, but even she knew it couldn’t happen there.
“You can drop me off here in the lobby. No need to go up. I’ll see you soon.” She smiled and whispered, “Good night.”
He looked at Diana, this lushly beautiful young woman before him.
She would be any man’s dream, he thought.
“Good night, then.” They exchanged smiles, and he turned and left.
He was hardly out the doors of the hotel when he started a monologue with himself: What were you thinking? Stupid, stupid! You weren’t thinking at all. Your loins were doing all the thinking. But she is damned beautiful, and she loved it. You damn fool. You are not in love with her, and you know it. Helena means so much more to you, and you know that too. You’ve really done it now. What is Diana to think? She probably thinks we’re practically engaged. Verdammt! Will she tell her mother? You’re really up to your neck in it this time. How could you be so dumb! Levi was right—two women at the same time is just asking for a scandal. Jesus, now what am I going to do? What if the two of them get together at the ranch?
Markus walked fast toward his quarters, his hands clutching and unclutching into fists at his sides. He shook his head in anger at himself.
For a few moments of passion, I’ve created a real mess for myself; that’s for sure!
CHAPTER 9
Conflicted
Markus was due at the ranch Saturday morning and arrived by horseback, having rented a horse from one of the town stables. The whole Conrad family was there for the noonday dinner, with Helena looking stunning in a frilly, yellow dress that almost swept the floor when she walked. Everyone was eager to see the German officer again and had many questions about events in Germany and the political happenings in Europe.
The meal stretched into the late afternoon and finally moved to the parlor’s settees and couches. Markus enjoyed the large, warm, friendly family but could not shake an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach every time Diana’s image flashed through his mind.
Finally, the two of them, Helena and Markus, were able to take a walk down to the stables and to be alone. As soon as they had passed through the barn’s Dutch door and were out of sight of the house, Helena stopped and turned into Markus. She looking up into his eyes and whispered, “I missed you.”
They easily slipped into a long, wonderful kiss and held each other close. He thought to himself, She means so much to me. I’ve got to make this right somehow.
“I thought of you often while I was back home.” They smiled at each other.
“Will I see you this Wednesday in town at the café?” she asked.
“I’m afraid not. I have to ride out to several problem areas. We’re installing new relay devices to get stronger signals. It’s important.” He hesitated and added, “I’ll be gone ten days or so.”
“Ten days? You must leave so soon? You just got back from your furlough.”
She gripped his arm as they strolled down the center aisle of the long stable, looking at the horses in the box stalls. “I love the smell of horses,” she said casually.
“Me too. I suppose that’s why I was a lancer when I first enlisted. They’re such beautiful animals … and intelligent.”
�
�Well, you may be riding camels here in Africa if you have to go into the really arid parts of the country.” They both found that amusing. The two of them walked out the far end of the stable and along a covered walkway to the open door of the tack room.
“I received a new saddle from father last Christmas. Would you like to see it?”
They stepped into the plank-floored room, and she struck a match to light the lantern. More than a dozen saddles on racks and assorted tack hung off posts on the walls. “There,” she said.
“So, no side saddle for you, Fräulein Conrad?” he said with a light laugh.
“No, no. I’m a country girl. If I’m to keep up with my brothers, I have to ride like them.”
“Can you keep up?” He was looking at her lovely, tanned face while waiting for her reply.
“Yes, I can, mostly.” She was pensive for a moment and added, “And I can keep up with the women too.” She was looking at him, and he could not escape the double meaning of her comment.
She moved to him, and they were together again in a kiss that had meaning beyond the passion of the moment that swept over them. The raw, physical desire, which had been building in both since being alone, was suddenly interrupted by Sambolo, the teenage stable boy, leading a horse to the coral. They broke off in time to see him disappear behind the stables. They turned back and looked at each other, desire in their eyes.
Helena stepped to an inner door and passed through. Markus followed. It was a feed storage room, with table-height bins for oats and other grains. A mound of freshly cut hay was in one corner. Helena walked to the center of the dimly lit room. Markus stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the lantern light. She turned toward him.
“I love you, Markus,” she said in a soft voice. He stood there, looking at her, this wonderful woman before him. There was silence. She slowly raised her arms and crossed them in front of her. Her hands touched her shoulders. She gently slipped the edges of her dress off her shoulders. Her skin was a pale white—an ever so lovely white in contrast to her tanned face and neck. She hesitated a moment and slowly eased her dress down, revealing her chest and the top of her breasts.
The Storm That Shook the World Page 5